Headlining "The Golden Age Collection" comes this 1997-98 Metal Universe Championship Basketball Precious Metal Gems #23 Michael Jordan card. For the first time since 2020, a PSA graded example has come to auction, and this time we have a freshly graded NM-MT 8 example. It has a colorful image of Jordan in full shooting extension with the ball ready to leave his right hand with a Chicago skyline background. Centering is excellent with smooth edges. The reverse is clean and bright and is numbered 25/50. According to the population report, there are seven examples graded NM-MT 8 with only four higher. Precious Metal Gems are what collectors consider the most important basketball inserts ever produced, and 1997 marked their Inaugural year. MJ had two Precious Metal Gem versions in 1997-98; the #23 example and this #23 Championship example. The other #23 version has a print run of 100 with the first 10 being green and remaining 90 being red. However for the Championship version, there is only one type, with a print run of 50.

The Golden Age Collection: Featured in the 2024 Winter Classic is one of the most significant modern finds that Lelands uncovered in its 40+ year history. The Golden Age Collection is a hobby fresh archive of gems from the pinnacle decades of modern collecting, starting in 1993 and ending in the early 2000's. Lelands submitted over 100 cards from the collection to PSA in December of 2023, so everything listed in this sale received a fresh grade. The card(s) you see here are being offered to the public for the first time in decades!